Bedfordview Athletics takes part in the MiWay Wally Hayward Marathon and Colgate Road Race
Bedfordview Athletics Club recently took part in the MiWay Wally Hayward Marathon and the Colgate Road Race.
Bedfordview Athletics Club recently took part in the MiWay Wally Hayward Marathon and the Colgate Road Race.
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They had a great start to the month of May, with wins at both races.
The MiWay Wally Hayward Marathon took place on May 1 in Centurion and the Colgate Road Race was on May 6 in Boksburg.
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While none of these runners are professionals, the investment by Bedfordview Athletics in its Performance Squad is seeing exceptional results.
This programme, albeit run on a tight budget, is designed to give some assistance to disadvantaged amateur but talented local runners.
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They are aided with professional coaching, nutrition guidance, shoes and kit sponsorship, and travel and accommodation assistance to big races, such as the Two Oceans and the Comrades.
They not only become role models in their community, with some of them coaching youngsters in their townships, but some go on to be snapped up by professional running teams.
This was the case with former Bedfordview Athletics Performance Squad member Ludwick Mamabolo, who eventually went on to win the Comrades Marathon in 2012.
The hope is that one day, with enough regional club talent development like this, South African runners could start challenging the Kenyan dominance in distance running.
Bedfordview Athletics produced some stellar results at these recent May races.
Derocious Makhobalo finished in a time of 01:08:31 at the MiWay Wally Hayward 21km.
Donald Mashamaite finished in a time of 46:33 in the Colgate 15km race, and Derocious Makhobalo came in at second place in 47:07.
Thapelo Mofokeng finished in a time of 01:57:36 in the 32km of the Colgate race.
Seventh place was taken by Mashudu Mmbengeni in a time of 02:02:07, and eighth place was Mark Chatham in 02:02:23.
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